By Jean Malanum
MANILA – Tennis player Alexandra Eala leads the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) monthly achievers for March.
The 19-year-old, playing as a wild card, made it to the semifinal round of the WTA1000 Miami Open in Florida in the United States.
On her way to the semis, the No. 140-ranked Filipina eliminated former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko in the second round, 7-6-7-5, No. 5 and reigning Australian Open champion Madison Keys in the third round, 6-4, 6-2, and No. 2 and five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek in the quarterfinals, 6-2, 7-5.
Despite her 6-7 (3), 7-5, 3-6 loss to fourth seed American Jessica Pegula in the semifinal round, Eala became the first Filipina in the Open era to beat a player in the WTA Top 5. She is also the first Filipino woman to break into the Top 100, reaching a career-high No. 75 world ranking.
Other achievers were Rubilen Amit (billiards), Melvin Jerusalem (boxing), Aidric Chan (golf) and TNT (basketball).
Reigning world 9-ball titlist Amit won two tournaments in Las Vegas. She ruled the Women’s Challenge of Champions over Russian Kristina Tkach and the Las Vegas Women’s Open over Chinese Han Yu.
Jerusalem defended his WBC world minimum weight belt with a unanimous decision (118-110, 116-112, 119-109) over Japanese rival Yudai Shigeoka in their grudge match in Japan.
Jerusalem retained his spot alongside IBF strawweight kingpin Pedro Taduran in the small club of reigning Filipino world boxing titleholders.
Rookie pro Chan dominated the Lexus Challenge in the Asian Development Tour in Vietnam. He shot a final round four-under-par 67 to beat compatriot Juvic Pagunsan and two others to claim the USD15,700 winner’s purse.
TNT downed Barangay Ginebra in a dramatic Game 7 that went into overtime, 87-83, to win the Commissioner’s Cup title. Guard Rey Nambatac was named Finals MVP. (PNA)
